Ear Protection when Diving

[TjRjn]

I would think you need something with alcohal in it to dry the water. Take my using what I posted for 30 years without a problem as proof that it works. I'm 69 and in the last 3 days have made 10 dives, without a problem. Plus it's cheap to mix. Good luck..

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After using Earol I now seem to have a dose of Labyrinthitis - I suspect from water trapped in my ear/infection etc...
I will be trying your solution when next I dive.

 

[HowardE]

If you can get the Doc's Proplugs, you won't have problems with ear infections anymore. One year (about 4 years ago) I had 4 ear infections. Then I started using the proplugs, and haven't had one since.

 

[supergaijin]

+1 for Pro Ear mask. Looks a bit odd but does the trick for the wife and about half a dozen instructors I have worked with previously.

I for one wouldn't feel comfortable with buds inside my ears.

 

[HowardE]

+1 for Pro Ear mask. Looks a bit odd but does the trick for the wife and about half a dozen instructors I have worked with previously.

I for one wouldn't feel comfortable with buds inside my ears.

Perhaps you should try them? I wouldn't call them buds. They are more like a fitted earplug, similar to in-ear monitors (for music) or a hearing aid. They are quite comfortable, and they make 8 different sizes to fit most ears comfortably.

 

[LaMissJude]

The Pro-ear mask is working great for me... I had sooooooooooooooo many ear-infection problems before using it, and now, it's gone.
I also use boric alcohol if I feel anything unusual and it's also really efficient, 5 min in the ear (or both if needed).

My last ear infection was... sometime in 2010. When before, it was every 3 months (and I started boric alcohol) and before that, I had a time of 1 week with ear infection, 1 week without, 1 week with, 1 week without...
I did see ear doctor, diving doctor and tutti quanti, everything is perfectly normal in my ears...

So I'm so happy with the pro-ear mask.
Yeah yeah, it looks a bit weird, but hey, at least I'm sure my students recognize me underwater

It might take a while to get use to it, though...

 

[maniago]

I use a solution of about 50% white vinegar and 50% alcohol (drugstore type.... sorry I forget the usual strength off-hand). I keep this mixture in a dropper bottle and then after diving and showering (or just rinsing ear in fresh water) I lie down, fill one ear with the solution, set a timer for 5 minutes, then turn over and repeat on the other side.

I read this in a medical book aimed for sailors (who would be swimming often in the tropics). I can't say what would have happened if I had not used it, but with using it conscientiously, neither my buddy nor I have had any ear problems. And that included months of often-daily snorkeling in the tropics.

Blue Sparkle

PS: As I understand it, the vinegar kills the nasties and the alcohol helps dry your ear canal. Also, it was stressed that 5 full minutes were necessary/each ear.

PPS: I just remembered that I have heard of some people using an ear dryer. One person I know of uses one called the Sahara DryEar. It's sort of like a little mini hair-dryer that fits into your ear.

My doc told me the same after my first ear infection - same chemicals, same %'s. So the dropper bottle with $.02 worth of solutions works wonders for me, though I use it right after my last dive religiously. Makes eating a sandwich at the same time a bit hard, but ah well, I can manage.